Sonoma Historics Motorsports Festival - Sears Point, CA

Down Memory Lane

In the movie Casablanca, Bogie's favorite melody was "As Time Goes By," even as it brought back painful memories, requiring a few stiff drinks to hear it. But experiencing times gone by in older Vettes required only sipping some high-octane race gas at the Sonoma Historic Motorsports Festival at Sears Point, California. In celebration of the marque's 60th anniversary, collector-car impresario Steve Earle, president of General Racing, Ltd., organized a fond look back at some classic Corvettes during the weekend of May 18-19.

In addition to relishing the roar of action on the 12-turn, 2.52-mile road course, we also took a stroll down memory lane through the pits. There, we took a closer look at a number of memorable Corvettes with significant racing histories, even at the risk of getting a bit misty eyed over all these wild and woolly machines.

Adding to the rich recollections (and collections) was an illustrious panel of Corvette racers, historians, and team managers, who recounted Corvette's history from the early '50s up to the modern-day triumphs in the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the American Le Mans Series. Participating in the seminar were current Corvette Racing Program Manager Doug Fehan, former Corvette Racing public-relations representative Rick Voegelin, and Corvette racers Paul Reinhart, Bill Pollack, Tony DeLorenzo, and Dick Guldstrand, among others.

Honored guest Reinhart—still active and hard-charging on the road course at the age of 84—was also awarded the Phil Hill trophy that weekend. Reinhart began racing Corvettes in Northern California in the late '50s, and in 1962 he was crowned Pacific Coast SCCA B-Production champion. He went on to compete against Carroll Shelby's Cobras, driving a Sting Ray coupe. Today, he continues to race his Union Oil 76 '57 in vintage events.

"We tip our hats to Paul Reinhart," said Earle, whose '59 racing Corvette was also entered in the event. "He was a hero of the day…as he mercilessly harassed the Cobras. The '50s and '60s in California were magical years, as Corvettes dominated in SCCA racing."

One vintage racer in particular, Noel Park of J&D Corvettes, is equally respectful of Reinhart—but he didn't hold back on the track, taking First in Group 9 in his yellow '58.

"Some people said I should let Paul win," he noted. "I'm a good sport—but not that good of a sport. I like to come in First. I like to honor him, though. Even though he retired last year, Earle coaxed him out of retirement, God love 'em!"

Park was also appreciative of Earle for staging the event through his organization, General Racing Ltd. He formed it in 1970 to encourage the restoration, preservation, and use of historic sports and racing cars. Earle envisioned events that would unite former racing greats with the enthusiastic amateurs who owned some of the rare cars that once graced road courses worldwide. The success of the first Monterey Historics in 1974, which attracted a field of 66 cars, led to additional events at other tracks.

In keeping with this year's particular celebration of the Corvette's 60th anniversary, look for our coverage of other "As Time Goes By" events later this year. Play it again, Sam.

MORE PHOTOS

VIEW FULL GALLERY

xclose

Sonoma Historics Motorsports Festival - Sears Point, CA

04

Larry Bowman brought out two of the event's most historically significant Vettes, including this one-of-five '63 Grand Sport. Look for a full feature on this coupe in an upcoming issue.

This red No. 43 '57 raced in SCCA "B" Production from '67 to '72, with Bob Dye manning the wheel. In addition to occasionally besting Sting Rays and Cobras on the track, it had a cameo in the film Herbie the Love Bug. The red '63 on the right was purpose-built for competition in 1992, eventually running in more than 60 races. Rick and Sue Orme restored it to full "run what you brung" configuration in 2004.

Here's an interesting historical trio in the Winner's Circle. At far left is Rich Mason's SR-2 race car. In the center is one of Dick Guldstrand's early racers, a '57 restored by Stand Wrightsman. Also from Guldstrand is a rare GS-90, owned by Charlie Budenz. It's based on a C4 ZR-1 chassis, and one of only six ever built. We're working on features on at least two of these three Corvettes, so stay tuned.

Doug Fehan, head honcho of Corvette Racing, brought out a real-deal C6.R for the event.

Also from Larry Bowman's considerable collection is the '69 V.V. Cooke L88, which won the '69 and '70 National B-Production Championships. With Allan Barker behind the wheel, it went on to win a phenomenal string of 26 races.

Renowned racer Paul Reinhart is still going strong after all these years. Fellow Corvette owners are amazed at how hard he drives his purple-and-orange C1. He was awarded the Phil Hill Trophy by Steve Earle in Sonoma.

A panel of racing luminaries related Corvette's history from the early '50s through today. Tony DeLorenzo, who won 22 straight SCCA A-Production and FIA endurance races with the Owens Corning team in 1969 and 1970, admitted that, "This is my first time back at Sonoma Raceway since 1978. We were always moving on, so these cars were tossed aside. Seeing the guys who care for them now is the biggest treat for me."

In 1974 John Greenwood developed an aero-enhancing widebody, working in concert with GM at its wind-tunnel facilities. The body later evolved into the fastback coupe design seen here, which went on to play a huge role in both IMSA and Trans-Am competition. This car also won in its group at Sonoma.

Regular readers might recall our previous feature ("Hail, Centurion!" July '11) on Wes Abendroth's rare Fiberfab body conversion, styled after the '59 Sting Ray racer. This one-of-a-kind prototype, fitted on a C2, features a '65 F-41 suspension, J-56 brakes, and a '65 Chevy 327 mill mated to a Muncie M22 close-ratio trans. Abendroth has since come across another C2-based Centurion, and is currently restoring it.

In its first outing in the fall 1960, this factory-prepped Corvette took Third in the "4 Hour Enduro" at Vineland, N.J. Second owner Steve Elfenbein drove it on the street and at hillclimb events throughout the east, achieving a three-peat as Pennsylvania Hillclimb Champion in '63-'65. After repowering the car with a 327, he went on to win consistently in road-course events. Elfenbein drove the car for pleasure as well until he passed away in 2004, and later it ended up in the hands of Greg Johnson.

Both Fred Yeakel and Dick Guldstrand have driven this '57 to class victories. It's fitted with '62 Rochester fuel injection and a Borg-Warner T10 four-speed, and it also includes the rare "Elephant Ear" drum brakes with cooling ducts. Its current owner is Ron Erickson of Bainbridge Island, Wash.

Noel Park of J&D Corvette is a regular on the vintage-racing circuit in his '55 (seen here) and '58 racers. His yellow '58 won the Group 9 category at Sonoma.